Clinton Mocks Obama’s Invocation of Indonesia Years
EmailABC News’ Eloise Harper and Teddy Davis Report: Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., mocked the relevance of Sen. Barack Obama’s, D-Ill., time living abroad on Tuesday just one day after an ABC News/Washington Post poll showed the Illinois Democrat with a four-point lead in Iowa.
"Now voters will judge whether living in a foreign country at the age of 10 prepares one to face the big, complex international challenges the next president will face," said Clinton. "I think we need a president with more experience than that. Someone the rest of the world knows, looks up to, and has confidence in. I don’t think this is the time for on the job training on our economy or on foreign policy."
Clinton’s Tuesday comments, which she made over the speakerphone in a fire house in Shenandoah, Iowa, were the first time that she has criticized the relevance of Obama’s international upbringing. The former first lady’s swipe suggests that the Clinton campaign is willing to drive up her negatives on likeability in order to drive up Obama’s negatives on experience.
Clinton’s criticism was prompted by comments Obama made about his foreign-policy experience while campaigning Monday in Clarendon, Iowa.
"Probably the strongest experience I have in foreign relations is the fact that I spent four years living overseas when I was a child in southeast Asia," said Obama, according to a Los Angeles Times report.
While Clinton was specifically responding to Obama’s comments from this week, Monday was not the first time that Obama has pointed to the relevance of his time living abroad.
As far back as March, Obama has pointed to his years in Indonesia as helping to prepare him for the presidency.
"If I go to Jakarta and address the largest Muslim country on earth, I can say, ‘Apa kabar,’ — you know, ‘How are you doing?’ — and they can recognize that I understand their common humanity," Obama told the National Jewish Democratic Council during a Washington, D.C., forum.
"That is a strength," he continued, "and it allows me to say things to them that other presidents might not be able to say. And that’s part of what’s promising, I think, about this presidency."
Obama’s March comments went unremarked. But when he invoked his time in Indonesia on Monday, Clinton pounced.
The latest ABC News/Washington Post poll showed that 55 percent of likely Democratic voters in Iowa say they’re more interested in a "new direction and new ideas" than in strength and experience, compared with 49 percent in July — a help to Obama, who holds a substantial lead among "new direction" voters.
The Obama campaign responded to Clinton’s criticism by unfavorably comparing her Washington experience to that of Vice President Dick Cheney and former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
"The real choice in this election is between conventional Washington thinking that prizes posture and positioning, or real change that puts judgment and honesty first," said Obama spokesman Bill Burton.
Clinton was forced to call into the fire house because her plane could not land due to thick fog.
"[I] apologize," Clinton told those in attendance, "I was in a plane flying from Iowa City and we could not land in Shenandoah. We tried twice because of the fog and after circling around we flew to Omaha and I’m on the ground now in Omaha."
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And entertaining the murderous father of modern terrorism, Yasser Arafat, a dozen times in the White House with your pandering husband doesn’t count as foreign policy experience either.
Posted by: Pain in the Donkey | November 20, 2007, 5:15 pm 5:15 pm
You call this ‘mocking’? I don’t think any experience of a child ‘prepares’ them for the presidency. Lighten up.
Posted by: kcareymac | November 20, 2007, 5:15 pm 5:15 pm
She’s acting bitter and indignant and (gasp) intolerant of America’s diversity. She’s a failure in the making. Go ahead, Dems, nominate her and watch the White House stay red.
Obama is above the slop that Clinton is trying to pull him into.
Posted by: PJ | November 20, 2007, 5:29 pm 5:29 pm
Tell me Hillary, how does ‘planting’ questions, ‘flip-flopping’ on important issues, voting for the Iraq War, hiding your HillaryCare papers, and taking stolen money from a fugitive, “prepares one for the complex international challenges the next president will face.”
Posted by: WashingtonPete | November 20, 2007, 5:56 pm 5:56 pm
There you go again Hillary.
Mudslinging.
Posted by: Matt Sutton | November 20, 2007, 6:15 pm 6:15 pm
The difference between the two can be summed up as follows:
Hillary: Turn up the heat!
Obama: More light, less heat
Posted by: Tom J | November 20, 2007, 7:55 pm 7:55 pm
Hillary has my vote!
Posted by: Daniel | November 20, 2007, 7:56 pm 7:56 pm
I think Obama was way off base saying living in a foreign country as a child has given him the foreign policy training he needs to be President. Well, maybe I’m off base now…he could be President of his Student Council with that experience, but to be President of the United States, well, it takes a lot more real life adult experience than that.
Senator Clinton has got my vote too!
Posted by: matthew | November 20, 2007, 8:31 pm 8:31 pm
Sadly, Hillary is quite mistaken. She is not the most qualified, nor the wisest. Without the name recognition of her Husband, who would know her? Maybe the people in NY NY, just another freshman senator with big ideas. Her passed along fame gives her a platform and NOT her abilities. Who has risen from nowhere to national prominence? Who has equivalent experience but a better heart? I say it is Obama. A person who says what people want to hear will satisfy them, but a person who says what is right will expand them. It is a fool and a cowards path to take the easy road of war, as was done, and to not rise above, which takes courage, and hillary failed in being wise. We laud Ghandi and Mandela who rose above the slaps and hits and punches, and went beyond. We need such a president. Sometimes the best way is not the obvious one, or the easiest. We are not at war with countries, or a people, but an idea, that grew for various reasons, and the war in Iraq is actually fostering and adding to the number of terrorist, serving as both a generator and magnet for terrorists. So if the best thinking of “traditional” defense politics ends up like that, isn’t it time to rethink how we approach these problems? And isn’t time for a person who would also rethink? if we negate the very things we hold dear, honor, respect, justice, to “protect” ourselves, don’t we really lose? And for economic and social policy, wisdom for me counts more than claimed experience.
Posted by: Tony M | November 20, 2007, 8:32 pm 8:32 pm
So who’s slinging the mud now? Hypocrite Hillary, that’s who!
Posted by: squeenter squillo | November 20, 2007, 8:35 pm 8:35 pm
Hillary better remember, what comes around goes around. Making remarks regarding Obama’s childhood is childish.
She and Bill need to go back to Arkansas, and retire.
Posted by: Tess, California | November 20, 2007, 8:47 pm 8:47 pm
Wow, Hillary is really getting desperate. Her perceived invincibility is crumbling. Even her pathetic husband can’t help her now.
Posted by: bob | November 20, 2007, 9:18 pm 9:18 pm
You know, i didn’t think it sounded like Obama was counting his childhood as his foriegn policy experience (he has real live grown up experience with foreign relations- like him going to Russia w/Luger to help try to negotiate the problem of loose nukes between foreign borders and being on the senate foreign relations commitee)
But it is true that how and where you are raised influences who you become as an adult. No one can deny that.
I don’t think Obama was saying anything more than that.
Posted by: JD | November 20, 2007, 10:06 pm 10:06 pm
Hillary is simply the best. Best product of american system. She is way ahead of Obama. Obama is a fresh state senator. That’s all. It is sad to see Democrat No.2 is a “Top Gun” aspiration. The overall portfolio is not strong. Sorry, Democrats. Lucky you get Hillary. Assume She is not there, there is no debate, and Obama will simply be ignored and lose straight in 2008.
Posted by: john irving | November 20, 2007, 10:16 pm 10:16 pm
“Apa Kabar”? Obama has thoughts of addressing the largest MUSLIM country in the world? I could just sense his pride on his Islam affinity. Just because he can say “apa kabar” (whatever the heck that means) doesn’t make him presidentiable. His childhood upbringing in Indonesia prepared him for the presidency. He calls that experience in foreign policy? Now that is HILLARious!!! You got to be kidding me. This Obama is just so ignorant and brain-dead.
Posted by: swissdiver | November 20, 2007, 10:38 pm 10:38 pm
I’m not sure exactly what Mr. Obama was trying to say. Maybe he feels more interationally savy because of his childhood. I do know,but he does seem to stands for truth and honesty. The pure nastiness and mean spiritness of Hillary’ comment lost her my vote. And all those who keep saying he’s a muslum,which anyone with half a brain knows is not true.
Posted by: el | November 20, 2007, 11:52 pm 11:52 pm
If Obama’s four years overseas, between the ages of 6 and 10, qualify him to become President of the US given all the problems Bush and his neo-con, right wing Republicans have created, then my Mom who spent 25 years living aboard make her a better candidate for president than naive, inexperienced Obama.
Posted by: Foreign Policy Experience? | November 21, 2007, 12:08 am 12:08 am
Swissdiver: “Presidentiable” Talk about ignorant and brain-dead……. On to more important matters. I tend to trust Barack’s foreign relations knowledge more so than one who directed the housekeepers for eight years. He has been the understudy of one of the Republicans best, co-chairing the Senate Foreign Relations Committee alongside Dick Lugar, a man highly regarded and respected on both sides of the aisle. Also understanding the languages of foreign countries can only be a positive, especially when that language happens to be that of countries who have been designated by GW,(who has yet to learn the English language), as “axis of evil.” May not be able to pull the wool over Barack’s eyes in a foreign relation meeting with these folks. No thanks to the director of table settings, I’d rather have the intelligence of Mr. Obama sitting at the table.
Posted by: gc | November 21, 2007, 12:39 am 12:39 am
Obama’s international life experiences gives him a unique perspective and will benefit him in dealing with foreign and cross cultural issues. No other candidate has a similar background.
Posted by: bob | November 21, 2007, 1:55 am 1:55 am
And Hillary’s foreign policy experience is what? Having tea and crumpets with wives of world leaders during her husband’s presidency? And what was Bill Clinton’s foreign policy experience prior to running for president? Perhaps negotiating with au pair girls and immigrant maids.
Posted by: bob | November 21, 2007, 2:04 am 2:04 am
Once again taking something that had nothing to do with her whatsoever and attempting to spin it negatively…..Hillary lost my respect as soon as she started teh insults…calling Obama naive. Naive he may be, but with him at the very least we know where he stands….no poll-driven positions. Independents for Obama!!!
Posted by: Discipulus04 | November 21, 2007, 5:27 am 5:27 am
Honestly I think Hilary has become Pathetic and desperate these day. Im an independent and I hate to see these kinds of spiping between Candidates
Mr Obama simply wanted to show the humanity in feeling what ordinary folks out there feel. Thats experience to me. It takes living with the poor, eating their food,suffering with them, talking their language etc etc to understand them.
Foreign experience doesnt mean going to Iraq to attack people and trying to figure out what to do with later
I feel really bad that Hilary would attack Mr Obama on this. Watch and see how voters in NH sanction her on this next polls. Its stupid for her to attack Obama on this.
Posted by: titiberg | November 21, 2007, 5:46 am 5:46 am
Time for a fresh start, vote Obama in 2008
Posted by: LIsten Up | November 21, 2007, 6:26 am 6:26 am
She talked about mud slinging in the debate and then does the exact same. Clinton comes from a family of privilege all her life and is too far removed from the common working person in my opinion. She has yet to overcome the impression she is telling the truth when she speaks. Sorry I just can’t trust her.
Posted by: vnvet68 | November 21, 2007, 6:33 am 6:33 am
Hillary’s attack on Obama is a cheap low blow. Her desperation is beginning to show.
Posted by: bob | November 21, 2007, 7:37 am 7:37 am
Well Well the desperate Mrs Bubba Billy makes a fool out of herself by slinging the mud at Obama. She is crumbling and will pull off a Dean in Iowa.
Posted by: Alphonse Warakomski | November 21, 2007, 7:41 am 7:41 am
Obama never said his years in Indonesia qualified him in foreign policy. He said those years made him comfortable with different cultures, experience which Hillary doesn’t have.
Perhaps she’s a little sensitive on the foreign policy experience question. She keeps trying to claim that trotting around on good will trips as First Lady gives her that experience. Yeah, she’s spoken with many heads of state: “my husband sends you greetings.” Laura Bush could claim the same.
Looks like she’s panicking. It was supposed to be wrapped up by now. She was already running a general election campaign when “whoops!” Back to the drawing boards on the coast to victory.
Posted by: Susan Breslin | November 21, 2007, 8:50 am 8:50 am
Drip, drip, drip. There goes Hillary’s lead. Drip, drip, drip. She hears it in her head. C’mon, Hillary, mocking Obama is not going to win you any votes. Where’s your experience Hillary? Losing the fight for healthcare is your legacy. What else do you have to show?
Posted by: Sean O'Brien | November 21, 2007, 9:35 am 9:35 am
Proof once again that a political tiger cannot change it’s stripes. Hillary will stop at nothing to cloud the issues and bring up anything irrelevant in order to possibly gain a few points. The scary thing is she was most likely fed this drool from one of her advisors and she decided to go for it. Very poor judgement.
Posted by: LongT | November 21, 2007, 9:36 am 9:36 am
Hey I know! Hillary could bring up the fact that when she was first lady she and Chelsia road an elephant making her savy in foriegn policy. Obama’s youth in Indonesia is about as relevant.
Posted by: LongT | November 21, 2007, 9:40 am 9:40 am
SO – IS this one of those “PERSONNEL” attack and “MUD slinging” that -S-l-i-c-k- -W-i-l-l-a-r-y- is SO against —–
Of course not, it wasn’t her saying it…, it was the Republicans disguised as her, using that nasty Republican play book……..hahahahahhahahah hehehehheh – she is a fool………
Posted by: FidoNY | November 21, 2007, 9:54 am 9:54 am
Hillary’s never going to let anyone take her democrat nomination from her alive! She knows that’s her nomination. It’s her turn to run for president and as a Clinton, she deserves to be president and no one better cross her or question her ability. She’s a Clinton and she knows that’s all the democrats need for a qualification anyway.
Posted by: TexBork | November 21, 2007, 10:46 am 10:46 am
The primary candidates with the best foreign policy experience are Biden, Richardson and Dodd. No Republican makes the first cut. Of course God shares with Robertson, so……. Looks to me like Hillary is criticising Obama with charges “straight out of the Republican playbook!”
Posted by: Luke | November 21, 2007, 10:47 am 10:47 am
Some of you make an excellent point, don’t’ believe what the candidates say but judge them what they have done in the past. Yes, what they have actually done based on factual records. Many politicians say a lot of things during a campaign and do something all together in the opposite directions while in office. This seems to be the rule not the exception but always remember actions speak louder than words. You tell the future by the past. ***
*** The only 2008 candidate while in the House of Representatives that rose to the position of Chief Whip
*** The only 2008 candidate as a Congressman has who has negotiated for the lives of Americans successfully from hostile countries.
*** The only 2008 candidate with experience as Sec. of Energy that has negotiated with OPEC to lower oil prices.
*** The only 2008 candidate with on-hands experience as Ambassador to the UN and understands the assets and short comings of the UN.
*** The only 2008 candidate intelligent enough to speaks three languages fluently – English, Spanish and French.
*** The only 2008 candidate that helped the Bush administration with North Korea.
*** The only 2008 candidate as a Governor who cut his state taxes.
*** The only 2008 candidate as a Governor balance his state’s budget 5 times.
*** The only 2008 candidate as a Governor promoted pro-growth policies and now his state is the 6th in the top 10 ranking of fastest growing state economies.
*** The only 2008 candidate as a Governor who has dealt with the illegal immigration issue first hand and who called Federal emergency help for securing our border with Mexico and took action to keep the roads of his state safe from illegal drivers.
*** The only 2008 candidate as a Governor his state initiatives in solar and wind energy alternate technologies have been recognized internationally.
*** I know the Governor Richardson is not air brushed perfect as the top rivals but I know what his values are by his actions and what he has done for others and our country. Actions always speak louder than words.
Posted by: threeriverscrossing | November 21, 2007, 11:30 am 11:30 am
Hmmm, the question is experience. HRC was the Treasury Secretary, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the Interior, National Security Advisor, etc., in the Clinton administration… right? I mean where else could she have gotten all of this “applied” experience she’s touting in the areas of the economy, environment, national security, etc. (I concede education because HRC has been a child and educational advocate for years)? Funny, if memory serves, the one area officially appointed to and controlled by HRC during the Clinton presidency was the healthcare issue and that was a disastorous failure. Is anyone else aware of some recess appointment or shadow position in the administration HRC held and if so, then she should disclose that information and be given proper credit or criticism for her performance during that tenure. Until then, will someone please explain why we’re supposed to believe that 8 years of being a “First Lady” somehow allowed HRC to vicariously hold every major cabinet position in the Clinton administration? Give HRC due credit and respect for her years in the Senate and judge her accordingly on her votes and stated positions, but it insults the intelligence of anyone who can hear to suggest that she is somehow battle-tested and more experienced than others just because she lived in the White House and advised her spouse… like most spouses do everyday, everywhere.
Posted by: FranknLa | November 21, 2007, 11:56 am 11:56 am
The Hillary detractors are correct to say that any comments by Her about Obama’s assertions about his upbringing will not play well in the press even though no personal attacks were included and her statements do not sink to the level of “mudslinging”. On the other hand, Obama’s opportunistic use of a smear by a republican mouthpiece (Robert Novak) is mudslinging of the most foul type. Why on earth would any democratic candidate challenge another democratic candidate on a character issue based on what is obviously a Rove tactic to bring down the top tier candidates by drawing them into a lose lose “death match”. His willingness to latch onto this at the possible demise of the eventual democratic candidate (even if it’s himself) is to me as a democrat, unforgivable. He knew that Novak’s story was totally unsubstantiated but also knew that it was a losing proposition to respond to it in any fashion, so he willingly jumped into the mud and pulled her in with him instead of challenging Novak to put his money where his mouth was. I would almost bet Novak’s inspiration for this farce was a recently departed White House operative with the initials K.R.. Too bad Obama didn’t have the foresight to see the endgame in all of this.
Posted by: Phil O | November 21, 2007, 12:26 pm 12:26 pm
I did not take Clinton’s remarks as either criticizing or mocking Obama’s upbringing. Rather, she made a truthful statement regarding any 10 year old boy or girl for that matter. She is right -what 10 year old listens to or knows anything about politics and foreign affairs just because they lived in different countries? Surely that does not qualify him/her to run a country. That’s like a 10 year old boy going to Italy to live after living here for a few years. I personally do not think that would make him capable of ruling Italy just because he lived in the U.S. for a while. I do not consider that experience in foreign affairs. That thought is crazier than saying GWB is a good president. If that were the case, there would not be the age requirement necessary to run for president in the U.S. – any child could do it as long as they lived in another country for a while – extreme statment? Yes, it is – so is a 10 year old living abroad being qualified to run for that reason an extreme statement. Nuts to that idea. We’ve had enough craziness in this country since GWB stole the office, we don’t need anymore. I pray our next president is qualified and smart enough to lead us, previous baby years spend abroad not required. Democrat preferred this time around.
Posted by: Ron | November 21, 2007, 1:02 pm 1:02 pm
HELLary is so lame! She says on CNN:
Saudi rape verdict ‘an outrage’
Where is her outrage on her husbands rapes and abuse of so many women?
Not to mention the Clinton Mafia’s murders?
She does not have authority to ask President Bush to boycott Saudi Arabia.
She is on her way out! She sounds desperate because her lead has shrunk so much. The more she shows her racism towards Obama, the worst it gets. HELLary is a looser! GO OBAMA
Posted by: pedro | November 21, 2007, 1:51 pm 1:51 pm
Wait a minute… I just thought of something: those “She’s got my vote” HELLary looser supporters, have an extremely high probability that they believe in abortions. What this means is that they will kill their babies, their future decents, therefore eliminating themselves from the human race’s gene pool, making themselves extinct… hmmm…. well, you get the idea! GO OBAMA!
Posted by: pedro | November 21, 2007, 2:04 pm 2:04 pm
As much as Ms Clinton has a point, is she really the person to be making it. I mean, what FP experience does she have? Come to think what FP experience, in terms of actually being President does anyone have? Even someone like Bill Richardson, who has as fat a resume on this as anyone in either field? The job is sooooo big that experience, in my view is much overrated. Much rather someone who shows good judgement and foresight, and Obama, IMO bests Clinton on those things.
Posted by: saintlymark | November 21, 2007, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm
I thought Barak said leaving in another country helped him have foreign relations experience not foreign policy experience.These are to different things,because relations experience helps you relate better with other people.While foreign policy can be enhanced by someone with foreign relations experience.
Posted by: clement | November 21, 2007, 2:41 pm 2:41 pm
Some of us simply have a problem comprehending the written word. The Senator did not say he gained international forgein policy experience by living abroad. He said he gained forgein relations experience. Since I have lived abroad being aware of cultural difference is a good base knowledge of understanding differences. We are in the situation today in the middle East mainly due to basic lack of understanding cultural differences. Perhaps it would be benifical to have a leader who value and understand cultural differences and align our policies in to acheive our goals. The neocons or the liberals pandering approach has never worked. Democracy and freedom must be driven from within. Of course we “Americans” understand that we created the model. Then we quickly tossed it away and forgot it. Maybe the Senator can help us recapture the magic of respecting cultural difference in other parts of the world.
Posted by: murl41 | November 21, 2007, 3:28 pm 3:28 pm
Without knowing the full content of the comment which is quoted, Obama could have said this tongue-in-cheek. My gosh he knows what he’s accomplished in tandem with Luger. He’s also aware that dialog with the Muslim faction, probably worldwide as well as here, is inevitible; and though I have to make a decision who to vote for, it’s good to made aware there are a few candidates running who also realize speaking is important before shooting. (Or, as in Hill’s case – before shooting one’s mouth off).
Posted by: JA | November 21, 2007, 3:53 pm 3:53 pm
what happened to not bashing each other and giving the pubs ammunition? More proof why Hillary is not a viable candidate. She needs to go away and let us Dems send someone to the general with a chance to win!!
Posted by: dk | November 22, 2007, 7:13 am 7:13 am
Senator Obama meant he lived in Indonesia, as an ordinary citizen during his childhood. His father is from Kenya and he still has family living in ordinary village of Kenya. He can relate to regular people outside our shore. He understands the fact that US foreign policies does not only impact capitals and palaces and world leaders but it also impacts whose ordinary people living in those countries. Being able to relate to them, being exposed to different cultures gives him a different perspective and a few more things to think about the human side of the equation when it comes to foreign policy. People should be smarter than taking everything word by word but by understanding the concept behind those words.
Senator Obama has a degree in Political Science with Minor in International Relations, he is on Senate Foreign Relations committe, she showed judgment on Iraq unmatched to ANY politicians running in the race. So he has credible qualifications. Living abroad, having family abroad just allows him to think in human term in addition to pure policy term. If Hillary in not smart enough to understand this small thing and by foreign policy all she means invade Iraq and bomb Iran, is she qualified to be a President at all.
Hillary is a shadow of Bill and still not enough to convince American people. Obama is his own man. Politics did not lead him to people, people led him to politics.
Posted by: Arshad | November 22, 2007, 4:10 pm 4:10 pm
WOW Lot’s of Hillary Haters on here..
I am quite sure Hillary will win the democratic nomination and become President of the United States.. Obama is all talk and no substance.. I want a leader with “real” experience, not a guy who talks big and represents nothing.
Posted by: Jay | December 2, 2007, 8:00 am 8:00 am
Wow Ashrad!! Well said. And Jay sounds like your discribing HRC in your idiotistical dialouge.
Posted by: maican | December 2, 2007, 11:27 am 11:27 am
It seems to me I’d rather listen to someone who has lived in another country about how to craft foreign policy than someone who has only been trained in crafting foreign policy. The former understands on a more visceral level what is involved in the crafting than someone who has only read about another culture. Until you live among others not of your country, you do NOT get the sense of that country adequately enough to craft responsible foreign policy without a LOT of help. For those who have lived in another country, at least they have the sense of what’s needed.
Posted by: fatesrider | December 2, 2007, 11:33 pm 11:33 pm